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'Best Friends' dog park seeks development support

Leo Costello, Oshkosh Northwestern Media
5 p.m. CDT July 26, 2014

Tina Rasor is a frequent visitor to the dog park at the County Community Park. She and her friend, Fluff enjoy the open area for their pets to run freely with other at the park.(Photo: Oshkosh Northwestern Media, Mark Ebert / Oshkosh Northwester)

Oshkosh is certainly a town full of dog lovers. Since December 2013, The Oshkosh Collections Department has issued over 3,400 dog licenses, not including those issued by the Humane Society.

"I think the people in this area appreciate dogs and appreciate the companionship that they bring to a household," local dog owner BJ Degroot said. "I don't know what my life would be like without my little Rollie girl."

Best Friends Dog Park in Oshkosh is currently the only dog park in Winnebago County. Winnebago County Parks officials said fencing recently placed on the northern edge of the dog park will be used for filler during a road construction project that will be used to enhance drainage and make the dog park less soggy.

Debbie "Fluff" Gross is a frequent visitor to the dog park at the County Community Park. She and her friend, Tina enjoy the open area for their pets to run freely with other at the park. (Photo: Oshkosh Northwestern Media Mark Ebert / Oshkosh Northwester)

Debbie "Fluff" Gross is a frequent visitor to the dog park at the County Community Park. She and her friend, Tina enjoy the open area for their pets to run freely with other at the park. (Photo: Oshkosh Northwestern Media Mark Ebert / Oshkosh Northwester)

Tina Rasor is a frequent visitor to the dog park at the County Community Park. She and her friend, Fluff enjoy the open area for their pets to run freely with other at the park. (Photo: Oshkosh Northwestern Media Mark Ebert / Oshkosh Northwester)

Tina Rasor is a frequent visitor to the dog park at the County Community Park. She and her friend, Fluff enjoy the open area for their pets to run freely with other at the park. (Photo: Oshkosh Northwestern Media Mark Ebert / Oshkosh Northwester)

Debbie "Fluff" Gross is a frequent visitor to the dog park at the County Community Park. She and her friend, Tina enjoy the open area for their pets to run freely with other at the park. (Photo: Oshkosh Northwestern Media Mark Ebert / Oshkosh Northwester)

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Leaders of a volunteer group that run the dog park continue fundraising for improvements to the facility, including adding a permanent swimming option and a means for animals to get fresh water.

"I've never been to another dog park that doesn't have some kind of watering spot for your dog," park user Isabel Wilson said last week as temperatures reached into the high 80s in Oshkosh.

Overheating and dehydration are major concerns for dog owners, like Stephanie Ambrose. She said it's debatable to bring her dog to the park on hot days due to the lack of water. Users would also like to see drier land, more shade, trash bins, and an agility course.

Winnebago County parks director Rob Way said that when the road construction is complete, the northern end will return to its original state with tall grass for the dogs to run through. Aside from maintenance operations, such as lawn-mowing and dumpster accessibility, Best Friends Dog Park is completely financed run by volunteers.

Mike Lindner stepped in as president of Friends of Winnebago County Dog Parks (which runs Best Friends Dog Park) in July after its founder, Michelle Kennedy, moved to Las Vegas.

Lindner is optimistic and proactive in his efforts to raise money for Best Friends Dog Park. He has been continuing a fund-raising opportunity called the Puppy Paddle that Kennedy started. Three days each summer, they open up the Winnebago County Park swimming pond for dogs to swim, run in the sand, and use an agility course for a $5 fee.

The Winnebago Pet Expo on Oct. 4 will bring some money into the park, Lindner said. He has also distributed donation jars around town.

The Winnebago County Parks Office has been scouting land for another dog park in northern Winnebago County for 11 years. Way said he and his staff are still evaluating properties.

Way said the county is looking for donations or fund-raising opportunities to help make a second dog park possible.

"Purchasing a property at a high price is prohibited," he said.

As of right now, Way says "there's no firm schedule," but Friends of Winnebago County Dog Parks, dog owners, and the county itself all have a mutual interest in further developing both Best Friends Dog Park and the possible northern county dog park.

Lindner likes the idea of having water access to the park, which will cost an estimated $8,000. However, he said he never wants to charge people admission to the dog park like some other counties do.

Leo Costello: (920) 426-6681 or lcostello@thenorthwestern.com.

To volunteer or donate to Friends of Winnebago County Dog Parks, visit winnebagocountydogparks.com.